Monday 24 June 2013

Talking Tech for June 25th 2013

Update to Apple's accessibility page


Both the Accessibility and the Special Education pages on 

 

apple.com

 

have been completely redone to bring them up to date and more in line with the rest of the larger Apple site….  In addition, the resource page has also been updated.

 

Apple - Accessibility

 
 
Apple - Special Education
 
 
Apple - Resources
 
 
Great to see, and a reconfirmation of Apple's commitment to accessibility.


Apple TV update for 2nd/3d generation Apple TVs (5.3)

Updated my Apple TV today to find two new subscription channels: Qello and Crunchyroll.

 

Crunchyroll has over 20.000 videos and 10.000 hours of anime, Korean live drama and live action titles.

 

Qello is a streaming on demand service for HD concert films and music documentaries spanning from the 1920's to now.

 

You can subscribe to a 7 day trial for either  subscription channel directly from the Apple TV by just putting in an email address.  Just remember to cancel subscription if you don't want to continue via your iTunes account.

 

The update notes on Apple's support website:

 

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4448

 

also mentioned other channels including HBO Go, ESPN, and Sky News, but I guess due to licensing agreements etc, these are not available in Australia.

 

The other item in this update was reliability improvements in signing in to the iTunes store and playing purchased content.

 

It is good to see new channels coming to the Apple TV, just wish there was more channels to choose from in Australia.  Then again, I can always AirPlay ABC iView  or the BBC iPlayer apps from my iPad on to the Apple TV.

 

The iPhones Marimba ring tone has been made in to a music video from Cult of Mac:

 

This is just geeky cool.

 

http://www.cultofmac.com/232916/the-iphones-marimba-ringtone-was-made-into-a-music-video/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

 

Youtube link to the Marimba music video:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=208VXVIVfzU

 

Seven great works that inspired geeks to change the world from ReadWrite:

 

These works include: NeuroMancer by William Gibson, The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner, Stranger In A Strange Land by Robert Heinlein, The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C Clark, Hyperion by Dan Simmons, I, Robot by Isaac Asimov, and Cryptonomicon by Neil Stephenson.

 

Sadly, I've only read 3 out of these 7: I, Robot, A Stranger in a Strange  Land, and Hyperion.

 

Actually thinking about science fiction, and quotable quotes, my most favourite  one is from Arthur C Clark:

 

"Any sufficiently  advanced technology, is indistinguishable from Magic."

 

Wonder if that is why the iPad when it first came out was so magical (smile).

 

http://readwrite.com/2013/06/21/7-great-works-that-inspired-geeks-to-change-the-world#awesm=~o9Dw3oBSzrpwJP

 

BBC issues Mobile Accessibility Guidelines from Net Magazine:

 

This draft document for both web and mobile accessibility looks quite interesting, plus evaluation points so that developers can work out if they have hit the target or not.

 

http://www.netmagazine.com/news/bbc-issues-mobile-accessibility-guidelines-132831

 

The BBC Draft Guidelines themselves:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/futuremedia/accessibility/

 

Schools in the US told to step up teaching Braille to students who are blind or low vision from Disability Scoop:

 

Wonder if this would be the same in Australia.

 

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/06/21/with-braille-schools/18205/

Friday 21 June 2013

Apple.com updates their Accessibility and Special Education pages

both the Accessibility and the Special Education pages on 

 

apple.com

 

have been completely redone to bring them up to date and more in line with the rest of the larger Apple site….  In addition, the resource page has also been updated.

 

Apple - Accessibility

 
 
Apple - Special Education
 
 
Apple - Resources
 
 
Great to see, and a reconfirmation of Apple's commitment to accessibility.

Thursday 20 June 2013

Apple TV update for 2nd/3d generation Apple TVs (5.3)

Updated my Apple TV today to find two new subscription channels: Qello and Crunchyroll.

 

Crunchyroll has over 20.000 videos and 10.000 hours of anime, Korean live drama and live action titles.

 

Qello is a streaming on demand service for HD concert films and music documentaries spanning from the 1920's to now.

 

You can subscribe to a 7 day trial for either  subscription channel directly from the Apple TV by just putting in an email address.  Just remember to cancel subscription if you don't want to continue via your iTunes account.

 

The update notes on Apple's support website:

 

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4448

 

also mentioned other channels including HBO Go, ESPN, and Sky News, but I guess due to licensing agreements etc, these are not available in Australia.

 

The other item in this update was reliability improvements in signing in to the iTunes store and playing purchased content.

 

It is good to see new channels coming to the Apple TV, just wish there was more channels to choose from in Australia.  Then again, I can always AirPlay ABC iView  or the BBC iPlayer apps from my iPad on to the Apple TV.

Monday 17 June 2013

Talking Tech for June 18 2013

Apple WWDC Keynote presentation direct link

 

If you would like to catch up on what happened at the Apple WWDC Keynote address 2013 last week on June 11, open up the following link in Safari for a direct stream.

 

http://www.apple.com/apple-events/june-2013

 

Nokia Symbian based handsets to stop - no more Nokia C5's from Vision Australia

 

As the following link from PC World states:

 

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2042071/the-end-of-symbian-nokia-ships-last-handset-with-the-mobile-os.html#tk.rss_all

 

Nokia has shipped their last Symbian handset.

 

I actually still remember when I got my first talking mobile phone (well PDA actually), it was the Nokia Communicator 910I with Talks I believe in 2003.  The actual phone part of the PdA didn't talk, but the actual PdA which interacted with the phone did quite nicely.  It was actually a demo done by FreedomBox (now Serotek) which put me on to the Nokia Communicator in the first place if my memory is not playing tricks.

 

Since then I only had two other Nokia Symbian based phones: the N70, and the N82.

 

On the AT Help Desk at Vision Australia, we still had folks purchasing the Nokia C5 with Talks up to now or upgrading their existing Talks licenses.  I believe we are still trying to source some more Nokia C5's, but I'm not sure what the outcome will be.  In the meantime, Vision Australia will continue to sell or upgrade Talks licenses as far as I know.  However, it really does sound like the end has come at last for Nokia Symbian based handsets in general.

 

if folks really really want a Nokia based Symbian phone capable of running Talks, there is always eBay.  After all they have been around for quite a long time, and this may be the chance to pick up a bargain for a second-hand handset.

 

I must admit for me, since I got my hands on my first iPhone in 2009 when VoiceOver was first introduced, I've never used a physical keypad based phone since.  Actually my work phone is my original iPhone, and my personal phone is the iPhone 5.

 

I guess most things have to come to an end eventually, 10 years or so for Talks is pretty good.

 

Orcam - Google Glass style device for blind or low vision

 

This technology just sounds amazing - similar idea to Google Glass but for blind or low vision

 

Orcam is a sensor that can be mounted on a pair of existing glass's (with the processor box in your pocket) that see's what is in front of you, understands what information you seek, and provides the information audibly through a bone conduction ear peace.

 

Orcam reads printed text, identifies objects, recognises faces, knows when the traffic light is red or green, locates bus numbers etc.

 

Vision Australia will be hoping to get a sample of the device, and as soon as we do, we will share are findings.  The following link will take you to the Orcam website for more information and a demonstration of the sensor in use covering reading a newspaper article, reading a menu selection, identifying a packet of tea, identifying money, and checking to see if a traffic light is red or green.

 

http://www.orcam.com

 

This article from the New York Times expands a bit more on the product:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/04/science/israeli-start-up-gives-visually-impaired-a-way-to-read.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&i

 

Do we still need specialist technology - opinion by Dr Scott Holier Media Access Australia

 

 

 

http://www.mediaaccess.org.au/latest_news/general/opinion-do-we-still-need-specialist-technology

 

AFB AccessWorld for June 2013

 

In this issue amongst other articles):

using VoiceOver with the iOS accessible Kindle app,

TextGrabber and the StandScan Pro,

Voiceye, and

Series - social networking for the blind or vision impaired part 3 - social networking on portable devices.

 

http://www.afb.org/aw/main.asp

 

Mac App - Battery Monitor - monitor battery level via speech output

 

This is a Mac app that I've wanted for quite a while.  Rather than having to go to my Extra's Status menu on the Mac with the VoiceOver command VO+MM, and then VO+Right arrow over to read the battery level on my Macbook pro: I can just leave this app running and get notified by system speech every 10 percent of the battery recharge or discharge.

 

Once the app was downloaded and installed from the Mac App Store, all I had to do to enable speech output for the monitoring of the battery level, was to bring up Preferences with Command+, (comma), Notifications tab, and in my case, I selected to be notified of both recharge and discharge: Speech was already selected.

 

Now I can just use my Macbook pro, and get notified of the discharge state when on battery or the recharge state when I've plugged the power back in without having to go anywhere near the Extra's Status menu.

 

Link to the app in the Mac App Store follows:

 

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/battery-monitor/id413678017?mt=12

 

Organising equipment for travel - buying a new computer bag

 

Finally updated my computer bag which I've been using for almost 10 years when travelling to see clients, attend conferences or give presentations.

 

I always dislike putting any of my equipment when travelling in to someone else's hands as I'm not sure how the bag that contains the equipment will be treated, and if possible, always preferred carrying my stuff onboard: whether an aircraft, train etc.

 

 

Unfortunately, due to the size of my current computer bag, it wouldn't go in to the overhead storage on aircraft, and the flight attendants usually had to stick it somewhere else, which meant again, I couldn't keep an eye on it as it were.

 

I had an opportunity this week to update my computer bag, and rather than going for bigger is better or getting a similar bag, decided to get a  bag that will fit in to the over head lockers on aircraft, hold it easily on a train or bus, fit in an overnight change of clothes, and be able to both carry or wheel it.

 

After only a small bit of shopping around, I purchased the HighSierra freewheel wheeled backpack.

 

http://www.amazon.com/High-Sierra-Freewheel-Wheeled-Backpack/dp/B003BOBF0G

 

The backpack has 3 zipped compartments (small, medium and large), indented wheels on either side, lugs on either side opposite wheels so that bag is sturdy when put down, a telescoping handle covered by a zipper when collapsed, a soft carrying handle just behind the telescoping handle, comfortable shoulder straps, and a reasonably large pocket on the side that you could stick in a bottle of water.

 

In side the large zipped compartment (behind the shoulder straps and where the handle extends), is a padded compartment to hold a laptop, plus plenty of room for clothes or anything else.

 

The middle medium zipped compartment, has an open pocket on the side closest to the large compartment, with the rest of the pocket being open to stick anything you like in to it.

 

The back small zipped compartment, has two pockets on the side closes to the middle compartment, two small pockets that you could fit a phone or digital recorder in to, and a bit of space for such items as UsB sticks, SD cards etc.

 

In to this backpack,  I was able to fit quite easily, my Macbook pro, Logitech solar K760 BT keyboard, iPad, Apple TV, Magic trackpad and Magic mouse, my iPHone, two digital recorders, all the necessary chargers/cables, and still have plenty of room for a change of clothes.

 

Haven't had a chance to wheel it around yet, but as a backpack, it is very comfortable, the wheels don't stick in to you, and it doesn't stick out to far behind you so if you turn around quickly, you won't knock anyone over.

 

Having this all in one bag, means that I have both hands free if its on my back or one hand if I'm wheeling it, which is a bonus if you have to control your Guide Dog at the same time (smile).

 

Of course, also having such a bag, means you can do the dash from aircraft to taxi without having to wait ages to get your bag from the baggage claim area.

 

Happy travelling again, including just going to and from work.

Saturday 15 June 2013

No more new Nokia Symbian handsets

As the following link from PC World states:

 

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2042071/the-end-of-symbian-nokia-ships-last-handset-with-the-mobile-os.html#tk.rss_all

 

Nokia has shipped their last Symbian handset.

 

I actually still remember when I got my first talking mobile phone (well PDA actually), it was the Nokia Communicator 910I with Talks I believe in 2003.  The actual phone part of the PdA didn't talk, but the actual PdA which interacted with the phone did quite nicely.  It was actually a demo done by FreedomBox (now Serotek) which put me on to the Nokia Communicator in the first place if my memory is not playing tricks.

 

Since then I only had two other Nokia Symbian based phones: the N70, and the N82.

 

On the AT Help Desk at Vision Australia, we still had folks purchasing the Nokia C5 with Talks up to now or upgrading their existing Talks licenses.  I believe we are still trying to source some more Nokia C5's, but I'm not sure what the outcome will be.  In the meantime, Vision Australia will continue to sell or upgrade Talks licenses as far as I know.  However, it really does sound like the end has come at last for Nokia Symbian based handsets in general.

 

if folks really really want a Nokia based Symbian phone capable of running Talks, there is always eBay.  After all they have been around for quite a long time, and this may be the chance to pick up a bargain for a second-hand handset.

 

I must admit for me, since I got my hands on my first iPhone in 2009 when VoiceOver was first introduced, I've never used a physical keypad based phone since.  Actually my work phone is my original iPhone, and my personal phone is the iPhone 5.

 

I guess most things have to come to an end eventually, 10 years or so for Talks is pretty good.

 

DAvid

Friday 14 June 2013

Organising equipment for travelling: buying a new computer bag

Finally updated my computer bag which I've been using for almost 10 years when travelling to see clients, attend conferences or give presentations.

 

I always dislike putting any of my equipment when travelling in to someone else's hands as I'm not sure how the bag that contains the equipment will be treated, and if possible, always preferred carrying my stuff onboard: whether an aircraft, train etc.

 

 

Unfortunately, due to the size of my current computer bag, it wouldn't go in to the overhead storage on aircraft, and the flight attendants usually had to stick it somewhere else, which meant again, I couldn't keep an eye on it as it were.

 

I had an opportunity this week to update my computer bag, and rather than going for bigger is better or getting a similar bag, decided to get a  bag that will fit in to the over head lockers on aircraft, hold it easily on a train or bus, fit in an overnight change of clothes, and be able to both carry or wheel it.

 

After only a small bit of shopping around, I purchased the HighSierra freewheel wheeled backpack.

 

http://www.amazon.com/High-Sierra-Freewheel-Wheeled-Backpack/dp/B003BOBF0G

 

The backpack has 3 zipped compartments (small, medium and large), indented wheels on either side, lugs on either side opposite wheels so that bag is sturdy when put down, a telescoping handle covered by a zipper when collapsed, a soft carrying handle just behind the telescoping handle, comfortable shoulder straps, and a reasonably large pocket on the side that you could stick in a bottle of water.

 

In side the large zipped compartment (behind the shoulder straps and where the handle extends), is a padded compartment to hold a laptop, plus plenty of room for clothes or anything else.

 

The middle medium zipped compartment, has an open pocket on the side closest to the large compartment, with the rest of the pocket being open to stick anything you like in to it.

 

The back small zipped compartment, has two pockets on the side closes to the middle compartment, two small pockets that you could fit a phone or digital recorder in to, and a bit of space for such items as UsB sticks, SD cards etc.

 

In to this backpack,  I was able to fit quite easily, my Macbook pro, Logitech solar K760 BT keyboard, iPad, Apple TV, Magic trackpad and Magic mouse, my iPHone, two digital recorders, all the necessary chargers/cables, and still have plenty of room for a change of clothes.

 

Haven't had a chance to wheel it around yet, but as a backpack, it is very comfortable, the wheels don't stick in to you, and it doesn't stick out to far behind you so if you turn around quickly, you won't knock anyone over.

 

Having this all in one bag, means that I have both hands free if its on my back or one hand if I'm wheeling it, which is a bonus if you have to control your Guide Dog at the same time (smile).

 

Of course, also having such a bag, means you can do the dash from aircraft to taxi without having to wait ages to get your bag from the baggage claim area.

 

Happy travelling again, including just going to and from work.

 

DAvid

iOS 7 beta and OS X Mavericks beta: commenced evaluation

iOS 7 beta and OS X Mavericks beta: commenced evaluation

 

Just a note to say I've commenced looking at both iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks from an accessibility perspective.

 

Unlike lots of places on the Internet who can't stop talking about beta software before it's released, I'll be posting information and audio demos of iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks when it's available later on this year after September.

 

My main reason for not spouting off about iOS 7 beta and OS X Mavericks beta, besides the fact that I signed a NDA, is that things change over a beta testing cycle, and what may seem good or bad for accessibility, will change.

 

If you want to get involved with beta testing iOS 7 or OS X Mavericks because you want your voice to be heard, it's quite simple, get yourself a developer account.

 

Just a tip: don't bother sending an email to accessibility@apple.com concerning issues with pre-release software.  If you have a developer account, that is the way you give feedback about pre-release software that you are testing.

 

David

Monday 10 June 2013

Talking Tech for June 11 - Apple WWDC 2013 Keynote - my notes

Apple WWDC 2013 Keynote - my notes

 

My notes of interest from the WWDC 2013 Keynote address held in San Francisco on June the tenth at 10AM.   Although, when I was listening to the Keynote, it was actually June the eleventh at 3AM in Australia: o'well, the things we do that we are enthusiastic about.

 

I've also included links where appropriate which will take you to the Apple.com website for more information (the site was updated with these links after the Keynote address).

 

Usual updates concerning Apple retail stores, app stores, iOS, and Macs.

 

OS X

 

OS X 10.9 called Mavericks, after a location in California.

 

Major features highlighted: 

1. iBooks now available on the Mac,

2. Maps (including send your destination to your iPhone for talking directions),

3. Calendar has a new look,

4. Improvements to Safari making it faster and easier to get to sites of interest,

5. iCloud KeyChain (storing your passwords on the cloud),

6. Multiple displays (including Apple TV),

7. Improvements to Notifications (including notifications from apps running on iOS), and

8. Finder - one window multiple tabs, tagging, under the hood features to increase battery life and application responsiveness..

 

Developer preview available today, public release in fall (our spring in Australia).

 

http://www.apple.com/osx/preview/

 

New Macbook air 11 and 13 inch models 

 

Discussion of the New Macbook air 11 inch (up to 9hr battery life), and the 13 inch (up to 12 hours battery life).  

 

Available from the Apple online store today.

 

http://www.apple.com/macbook-air/

 

New Airport Express and Time Capsules: 

 

also available today from the Apple online store..

 

New Mac pro (preview)

 

Preview of the new Mac pro: 1 eighth the size of the existing Mac pro, but way more powerful and high-tech design.

 

Available later this year.

 

http://www.apple.com/mac-pro/

 

iWorks for iCloud

 

Demo of iWork for iCloud: web based Pages, Numbers, and Keynote all accessed via a web browser including Safari, Internet Explorer, and Chrome.

 

Developer preview available today, public release later in the year.

 

IOS 7 - With a brand new look and feel.

 

1. Notifications Centre now available from the lock screen,  a notification once checked will clear on all iOS devices,and with a handy today overview.

2. New Control Centre also available from the lock screen giving quick access to turn features on or off (including Bluetooth), , and includes a flash light.

3. Apps can update in the background.

4. Beter multi-tasking control of apps.

5. Updates to various apps including Camera, Safari, and of course Siri (with more naturally sounding male and female voices plus more features).

6. AirDrop: easily share information with others via wifi or Bluetooth, no setup required.

7. iTunes Radio within the Music app: listen to preset or make up your own radio stations, available on iOS,  Apple TV,Mac and PC using iTunes.

8. App store: find apps that are relevant to your current location, and apps that are appropriate to a child's age.

9. Find my iPhone with new Active Lock feature preventing anyone from resetting your iPhone if it is stolen.

10.  Coming in 2014 with various car manufacturers: iOS in the car: allowing you to fully use your iPhone hands free.

 

Developer preview available today, public release in fall (our spring in Australia).

 

http://www.apple.com/ios/ios7/

 

Watch the WWDC 2013 Keynote via Safari

 

http://www.apple.com/apple-events/june-2013/

 

It was also available via the Apple TV which was the way that I watched the Keynote this time around.

Sunday 9 June 2013

Mac app utility - Battery Monitor

Mac App - Battery Monitor - monitor battery level via speech output

 

This is a Mac app that I've wanted for quite a while.  Rather than having to go to my Extra's Status menu on the Mac with the VoiceOver command VO+MM, and then VO+Right arrow over to read the battery level on my Macbook pro: I can just leave this app running and get notified by system speech every 10 percent of the battery recharge or discharge.

 

Once the app was downloaded and installed from the Mac App Store, all I had to do to enable speech output for the monitoring of the battery level, was to bring up Preferences with Command+, (comma), Notifications tab, and in my case, I selected to be notified of both recharge and discharge: Speech was already selected.

 

Now I can just use my Macbook pro, and get notified of the discharge state when on battery or the recharge state when I've plugged the power back in without having to go anywhere near the Extra's Status menu.

 

The app was only $5 or so from the Mac App Store and well worth the price.  I've pasted in a description from the Mac App Store (with a link to follow), info about the speech option is at the bottom of the description.

 

NOTE: A computer with a battery compliant with the Smart Battery standard is required. All portable Apple computers with Intel processors fulfill this requirement.


More and more computers are mobile devices nowadays. The most important prerequisite for a portable computer is a chargable battery which keeps the device powered. Batteries are not really cheap replacement parts and they are subject to wear and tear. Their lifetimes should be optimized, handling them with the necessary care. Battery Monitor is a small auxiliary application useful in this regard. It offers the following features:

- Display of the charge state in the Dock: This is useful if you cannot or do not like to use the display in the menubar of Mac OS X, e.g. when you have a screen which is not very wide.

- Display of internal battery information: In addition to the charge state, many other technical specifications, e.g. age, temperature, discharge current, number of charge cycles, expected lifetime, or capacity can be retrieved. The states of each of the battery cells and the manufacturer of the cells can also be determined.

- Capturing charge and discharge curves: The history of the readings measured by the battery unit can be displayed graphically. This way you can plot the charge and discharge curves, for example, one of the most important characteristics for the health of a battery. You can also review the graphical profile of the amperage drawn by the computer, helping to find “power guzzling applications”.

- Bookkeeping of the aging process of the battery: Battery Monitor automatically keeps a log about the charge capacity of the battery which will decrease as the battery ages. This helps you to exactly monitor how the behavior of the battery is changing over time. You can assess if your battery is working normally or if it might be defective. You can also estimate more exactly when the right time has come to purchase a new battery. For computers with replaceable battery units, Battery Monitor can of course monitor multiple battery packs at the same time.

- Notifications during charge or discharge: In addition to the display of the charge state in the Dock, Battery Monitor can optionally inform you about the progress of the charge or discharge process by other means. Inobtrusive notifications using speech, the Notification Center of OS X, or via Growl technology can be set up.

 

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/battery-monitor/id413678017?mt=12

Tuesday 4 June 2013

OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.4 update released today with VoiceOver compatibility improvements

Mountain Lion 10.8.4 update released

 

According to the release notes: VoiceOver compatibility improvements to text in PDF files: still trying to work out what these are.

 

Originally mis-read the update notice, and thanks to Twitter, got reminded that it was text in PDF files and not text and PDF files for the compatibility improvements: whoops.

Monday 3 June 2013

Talking Tech for June 4 2013

Using MarsEdit (blog editor) to post to my own blog

 

I came across MarsEdit, a Mac application, which allows you to post directly or work on a post draft blog to various blog sites such as WordPress, Blogger etc.

 

My first thought to myself was "why haven't I been using this before".  I can work on a blog draft for as long as I like (such as items to the next Talking Tech program), post when I'm ready, and edit existing posted blogs.

 

So I quickly scuttled off to (electronically speaking)

 

http://www.blogger.com

and created my own blog (yes, the one your reading now - smile).

 

I then downloaded and installed MarsEdit from the Mac App Store, ran the program, gave it my blogger details, and I was ready to draft or post directly to my new blog.

 

This instalment of Talking Tech for June 4 started life out as a draft to which I just added stuff over a few days, and when ready, just posted to the blog site.

 

It's the best $41 I've spent for a while.

 

For more information on MarsEdit, go to:

 

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/marsedit-blog-editor-for-wordpress/id402376225?mt=12

 

Oh and yes, I can also monitor the blog site by using the Blogger app from Google:

 

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/blogger/id459407288?mt=8

 

Predictions for Apple's World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) June 10 2013 

 

I agree with the below article from The Loop that we will see iOS 7 (which hopefully will be available for developers to download), Mac OS X 10.9 (next major upgrade to OS X) top features (may be not to download by developers), and some new hardware on the Mac side of things.  Given that the seed cycle for OS X 10.8.4 apparently has just completed, this may be available to download which according to some sources has improvements for VoiceOver in text and pdf documents.  So no iPhone, iPad, smart watch etc.

 

Hopefully I'll be able to stream the keynote address via the Apple TV as I did with Apple's last keynote address.

 

Will be getting up way before the crack of dawn (Australian time(, and letting you know what actually got announced in the afternoon with the next Talking Tech.

 

http://www.loopinsight.com/2013/05/29/wwdc-expectations/

 

From CyberShack - How to set up a home wireless network

 

With all of the wireless devices around these days, this article is a great reminder on how to go about setting up your home wireless network and connecting your wireless devices such as laptops, tablets, phones etc.

 

http://cybershack.com/news/how-setup-wireless-network

 

A quick overview of smart phone accessibility by the RNIB February 2013

 

Youtube video discussing speech and large print in iOS, Android, and large print in Windows phone 8.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV_iLcfzuEg&feature=youtu.be

 

From TechHive: iPhone and Android users have different smart phone usages:

 

I hardly every use my iPhone for making calls, just using all of the apps.

 

http://www.techhive.com/article/2040527/smartphone-usage-trends-show-iphone-owners-busier.html#tk.twt_http://www.techhive.com/article/2040527/smartphone-usage-trends-show-iphone-owners-busier.html

 

Using a screen reader with Google docs

 

This page gives instructions on using JAWS, NVDA, Chromevox, and VoiceOver with Google Docs.

 

http://support.google.com/drive/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1632201

 

Marco's accessibility blog - another look at Facebook accessibility

 

Looks at the desktop and mobile web site versions of Facebook, and the native apps for iOS and Android: overall thumbs up.

 

http://www.marcozehe.de/2013/06/02/advancements-in-the-accessibility-of-facebook/

 

New iPod touch 16gb (without EyeSight camera or wrist loop)

 

A cheaper way of getting yourself an iPod touch, in Australia, $240.  Still has all the bells and whistles, besides the back camera, and the wrist loop of course.

 

http://store.apple.com/au/browse/home/shop_ipod/family/ipod_touch_16gb

 

Audio Archery - Archery for your Ears


Audio archery brings archery to IOS. Use only your ears and your reflexes to shoot targets. The game is entirely auditory, so there are no pictures or icons. You will hear a target move from left to right. When it is centered, flick down on the screen with one finger to pull back your bow. Release your finger to fire your arrow.

The game consists of 10 rounds with 7 shots each. Your goal is to meet or exceed the minimum score given to pass to the next round. Can you pass the tenth round and become the audio archery champion?

 

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/audio-archery-archery-for/id531019563?mt=8

 

Here is the link to my demo of Audio Archery:

 

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/2013/05/30/demo-of-the-free-audio-archery-game-from-lworks

 

Here is the Android version of the game as well:

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.l_works.audio_archery&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsIm5ldC5sX3dvcmtzLmF1ZGlvX2FyY2hlcnkiXQ

 

catching up with the Talking Tech program

 

As always, you can catch up with the Talking Tech program podcasts by going to:

 

http://radio.visionaustralia.org/podcasts/podcast/8768e7eb-0396-409c-909d-e44e841287a8

Saturday 1 June 2013

Welcome

Hi all,

 

I will be using this blog as a way of keeping myself up to date, and at the same time sharing interesting information and links in relation to assistive technology that relate to folks who are blind or vision impaired.

 

My main focus is on accessible Apple products, but there will be plenty of other stuff.

 

It will also be the spot where I post information concerning the Talking Tech program which I do every Tuesday after 4:30PM on Vision Australia radio.

 

You will also be notified of my latest podcast from my Apple and Other Technologies podcast.

 

 

If you use an RSS reader, the RSS feed for the blog site is:

http://davidwoodbridge.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

 

Feel free to follow me on twitter @dwoodbridge or access my twitter page at:

 

http://www.twitter.com/dwoodbridge

 

My Apple and Other Technologies podcast blog can be found at:

 

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com

 

Hope you find something of use.

 

David